The SNES Classic might spell the end for backwards compatibility – but should it?

As hardware and software evolve further away from their 8-bit beginnings, preserving the past in a medium worthy of the present gets harder to do. To keep the essence of the artform alive, games need to remain playable — even decades after their initial release. This, obviously, is easier said than done. So what are our options? Each of the three major console manufacturers have their own solutions. Nintendo: Older games? Have this niche console! Until recently, Nintendo consoles were compatible with one previous generation. The Wii can play GameCube games, the Wii U can play Wii games, and the…